Davidson County Republicans press pro-fairgrounds case

The Davidson County Republican Party has put together a campaign mail piece urging voters to support preservation of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds and vote for two dozen Metro Council candidates who share that view.

The mailer endorses three of the 18 candidates for the five at-large seats – and says it’s OK to vote for just those three – and 21 contenders in the 35 district races, including a few council incumbents who are unopposed. Kathleen Starnes, the party’s chairwoman, said the list includes some Democrats.

Starnes said she and her team have raised “several thousand” dollars but are still working to raise more to distribute the piece countywide. The party also put together a pro-fairgrounds video recently.

“We want to make sure we get it to all the right people,” Starnes said of the mailer, which says at the bottom, “Paid for by Friends of the Fairgrounds.”

The Metro election, including a referendum on the future of the fairgrounds, will be held Aug. 4. Early voting starts Friday.